2014 AD100: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects

Abiding by the modernist imperatives of spatial clarity and simplicity of form, architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien approach each commission with a deep concern for the emotional resonance of the building as well as a passion for the materials used to construct it. The Manhattan husband-and-wife team’s stated philosophy defines architecture as “an act of profound optimism,” one whose “foundation lies in believing that it is possible to make places on the earth that can give a sense of grace to life.” Among their recent works are Philadelphia’s luminous Barnes Foundation, the charismatic Lakeside ice-skating facility in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, and an idyllic weekend hideaway in the Hamptons. In each, the couple ably balances sculptural brio with spare, sublime tranquillity. twbta.com